Love Smitten Wins Silver Belles by 7 Lengths

Love Smitten took the lead early and drew off at the finish to win the $120,100 Silver Belles Handicap for older fillies and mares Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Chris McCarron, Love Smitten was seven lengths ahead of Mimi Baker, ridden by Alex Solis. The heavily favored Dontstop Themusic, ridden by Laffit Pincay, finished third, another two lengths back.

The impressive victory was worth $61,600 to Love Smitten, a 4-year-old daughter of Key To The Mint, trained by Eddie Gregson.

Love Smitten was clocked in 1:47 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track and paid $10.20, $5 and $2.20. Mimi Baker, an 11-1 shot, returned $6.80 and $2.40, and Dontstop Themusic, the 2-5 favorite carrying highweight of 125 pounds, paid $2.10 to show.

Dontstop Themusic did not break well and appeared to brush the rail on the clubhouse turn. But she lacked a response when called upon going into the stretch.